How Targeted Leg Shootings Became Standard Police Practice in Uttar Pradesh

What Happened

Over 16,000 police encounter operations took place in Uttar Pradesh between 2017 and 2025. In about 97% of these cases, the accused survived with a bullet wound to the leg. This method is commonly known as 'Operation Langda' or half-encounters, started by the Uttar Pradesh Police under a zero-tolerance framework. A study by the Centre for Criminology and Victimology at National Law University Delhi examined 100 verified encounter cases from January 2025 to May 2026. The study found that these incidents follow a fixed seven-step sequence across more than 30 districts.

Official Rewards And Response

The practice focuses on disabling suspects rather than killing them, making it easier to defend legally while recording an arrest. State data show that 2,739 encounters happened in 2025 alone, marking the highest annual figure in the dataset. Official recognition and accelerated promotions reward these operations. Meanwhile, courts and legal guidelines face challenges in applying independent checks. The Supreme Court laid down sixteen principles in a 2014 case requiring independent inquiries, and the Allahabad High Court noted in January 2026 that these practices had become routine due to official rewards and promotions.

Context

Police forces sometimes face pressure to show quick results when regular conviction rates are low and courts have heavy backlogs. Practices like targeted disabling shots emerge as alternative methods of control when standard investigative systems struggle with capacity. However, legal experts point out that punishment remains the sole duty of the courts under established constitutional rules.